Google Rejects Ads On YouTube That Exploit And Forgive Russia-Ucaraine Conflict

Google has stopped selling all online advertising in Russia. (photo: doc. pixabay)

JAKARTA - Alphabet Inc.'s Google, will not help websites, apps and YouTube channels sell ads alongside content it deems to exploit, reject or condone the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict. This was commissioned by the US company, Wednesday, March 23.

Google, whose advertising software has helped publishers generate revenue, is now banning ads from appearing alongside content that incites violence and denies tragic events. It widely applies the policy to war.

"We can confirm that we are taking additional steps to clarify, and in some cases expand our monetization guidelines as they relate to the war in Ukraine," said Google spokesman Michael Aciman.

In an email to the publisher seen by Reuters, Google said the ads would not run concurrently. For example, "claims implying that victims are responsible for their own tragedy or similar examples of victim-blaming content, such as claims that Ukraine committed genocide or deliberately attacked its country and its own citizens."

Google also prohibits ads that take advantage of sensitive events and has implemented that policy on content about war.

Senior Russian officials say Western media have misreported the conflict in Ukraine, which Russia has long called a "special operation" to demilitarize the country.

The Interfax news agency reported on Wednesday that Russia's communications regulator had blocked the aggregator service Google News, accusing it of allowing access to what Russia said was false material about military operations in Ukraine.

Many major Western advertising and social media services have announced new content and payment restrictions around the conflict. This includes blocking Russian state media RT and Sputnik in the European Union.

Even earlier this month, Google said it had stopped selling all online advertising in Russia.